Plateau in obesity and overweight in a cross sectional study of low, middle and high socioeconomic status schoolchildren between 2004 and 2009

Abstract

Objective: To examine cross-sectional trends in obesity and overweight by gender, age and school socioeconomic status (SES) in 1,239 children aged 9-12 years from the same 10 primary schools in 2004 and 2009.

Methods: Self report questionnaire with measured height and weight. BMI and international (IOTF) standards were used to classify overweight and obesity. School SES was determined using a combined government measure of family income and parental education.

Results: There was no significant change in obesity, overweight or mean BMI between 2004 and 2009. Obesity decreased slightly but not significantly at 7.0% in 2004 and 4.8% in 2009 (P = 0.42). The significant predictors of obesity were a low school SES (OR = 2.42, P = 0.007) and age ≤10 years (OR = 2.33, P = 0.002). Male gender was a marginally significant predictor (OR = 1.60, P = 0.08). School SES, age and gender were not predictors of overweight.

Conclusions: Obesity and overweight remain high, but the increase of earlier years has abated. Children from low SES schools and in younger age groups remained most at risk of obesity. Preventive measures, physical activity and nutrition interventions are needed.